Although very low-birthweight infants had poorer health and required significantly more health care resources than full-term infants, caregivers' quality of life did not differ between the two groups. Caregivers of both groups of infants reported substantial mental and physical health problems but perceived good quality of life. These data will aid parents, physicians, and policy makers as they struggle to make decisions concerning care of high-risk, costly, very low-birthweight infants.